Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18469 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 333 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 27 ) 67

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

From This Moment On

April

Thu 30: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: International Jazz Day & JANE AGM.
Thu 30: Duke Junction @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Nadim Teimoori (tenor sax); Jeff Hewer (guitar); Martin Longhawn (organ); Steve Hanley (drums). An International Jazz Day event & the 12th anniversary of Newcastle Jazz Co-op acquiring the Globe!

May

Fri 01: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 01: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 01: Bede Wind Band + East Coast Swing Band @ Cullercoats Methodist Church. 7:30pm. £10.00. Tickets from: www.ticketsource.com, members of Bede Wind Band & at the door. Memorial concert for Anne-Marie Purvis, who was a member of both ensembles. All proceeds to Tiny Lives Trust.
Fri 01: Louis Louis Louis @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.

Sat 02: Midnite Follies Orchestra @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £20.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. All-star line-up.
Sat 02: Knats Masterclass & Jam II @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 1:00-3:00pm. £15.00.
Sat 02: Shannon Pearl + John Pope & John Garner @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf. ‘Witch-pop’ + Pope & Garner.
Sat 02: Knats + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 02: Midnite Special @ Station East, Gateshead. 7:30pm. Free. A Lonnie Donegan ‘King of Skiffle’ celebration.
Sat 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 03: Chilcott Jazz Mass @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 9:30am. Free. Sung communion with Parish Choir (featuring Bob Chilcott’s music). A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Mark Toomey (alto sax).
Sun 03: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tom Waits for No Man @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm (2:30pm doors). Neckties and Boxing Gloves album launch. £14.00 (gig & a CD); £8.00 (gig only). SOLD OUT!
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 03: John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.

Mon 04: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ The Library, South Parade, Whitley Bay. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 05: Leah Kirk (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 2:30pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jenny Baker (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 4:20pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thursday, October 17, 2024

The Olivia Cuttill Quintet @ King's Hall, Newcastle University - Oct. 17

Anonymous
Olivia Cuttill (trumpet, compositions); Issey Chivers (vocals); Tom Harris (piano); Fergus Quill (bass); Miles Pillinger (drums).

When I took my seat in the King's Hall Recital Room in Newcastle University for a 45 minute lunchtime concert little did I think I was about to witness one of the 'Gig of the Year' contenders. After all, there's some mega names in the running already - and the opening number, Isabella, did nothing to change things. Don't get me wrong, it was fine, Cuttill displaying a big round sound on an interesting composition but the (musical) Earth didn't move for me.

All that changed after vocalist Chivers joined the band. Suddenly, it all happened. The voice, the trumpet, the rhythm section were playing for keeps! I don't know if Olivia's trumpet tone was enhanced by the room's acoustics but the sound reminded me of the late Roy Hargrove, maybe even richer and fuller. I was hooked and, if that wasn't enough, Busy (seven out of the eight tunes were originals) had a clever lyric that any housewife/househusband could relate to. Deal Issey in on the vocal and you've got perfection - or as near as dammit!

The only non-original - Bobby Timmons' Moanin' - had a lyric based around Lee Morgan's trumpet solo. Olivia's solo was of comparable quality and Harris' piano solo was the icing on that particular cake. Who's moanin'? - Not me.

Linger For a While With the Sun. Languid and relaxed vocal, muted trumpet, nice - I think the sun outside showed its rarely seen face for the  occasion.

There's a House Down by the Station. Not only a great trumpet player, composer and lyricist, she also thinks up meaningful, and catchy, titles. This particular one related to the house where her grandmother once lived. Trumpet, piano and, of course, voice do it justice. One person, sitting not one hundred miles from me, said that they could imagine Louis Armstrong singing it - maybe...

Snooze Blues and everyone went for gold on this one not least Pillinger on drums. There was a party of very young schoolboys and one in particular was captivated by the drum solo. The youngster copied every move Miles made, sometimes even (correctly) anticipating him. Maybe one day he will be up there!

More drums and another great title - I've Won the Lottery.

Your Old Man's Plan, dedicated to her dad and with an emotional muted trumpet solo, brought this wonderful afternoon to a close.

Gig of the Year? Well, comparing these 45 minutes with your average 90/120 minute gigs - on that basis, it is! Lance

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1 comment :

Anonymous said...

In the hope that the Olivia Cuttill Quintet will return to the Kings Hall. They were amazing and inspirational.

Saturday, May 31, 2025 10:01:00 PM

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